Dear Silent Hall of Fame Users:

You have come to this website, because you like silent films and silent movie stars. There are many places like this. But unlike other sites, here at Silent Hall of Fame you can make a real difference. You can help us show for the first time many films featuring your favorite silent stars that have not been seen in generations. This will bring their names back into the public discourse. But you can do much more than that: you can help your favorite silent stars receive belated recognition and glory.

Until now there has never been an organization with the purpose to place a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for movie personalities from a century ago. Silent Hall of Fame is this historic organization. Silent Hall of Fame is the only organization of its kind. We will make history and we invite you to become a part of history by sponsoring a silent movie star for the Hollywood Walk of Fame. All contributions are tax deductible.

Please use this button for a one-time donation. Use the button on the right-hand side for a recurring donation.

Rare Gems on DVD

Our users have spoken, and we have listened. You want to see rare and hard to find films, and we have created for you the Silent Gems Collection, available on eBay. This DVD collection includes rare and for the first time available films with our stars, as well as other silent masterpieces. These are high quality films that are hard to find anywhere else. Please click on this link to see the collection: Silent Gems Collection

This announcement, as well as the link, are approved by Google AdWords for Nonprofits. See also the Footnote at the bottom of this page.

Important Update:You don't have to leave our website in order to obtain the films from our Silent Gems Collection. These gems are now available to our users as a reward for donation. For details click here.

OUR DOCUMENTARY

We are proud to present to all silent film lovers our multiple award-winning documentary! In March 2015 it won the distinction "Award of Merit" at the San Francisco Film Awards. In May it won the Silver Award at the 2015 International Independent Film Awards. In September 2015 it won the Award of Recognition at the Accolade Global Film Competition. Of equal merit is the inclusion of the documentary in the Official Selection of the San Jose International Short Film Festival in October 2015. In December the documentary won the extremely prestigious Diamond Award at the 2015 California Film Awards. The amazing run of recognition for our documentary continued in 2016. In February it was included in the Official Selection of the Buffalo Niagara International Film Festival.

This original article was created by, and is the exclusive property of Silent Hall of Fame.

In the Beginning

Marceline Day was the younger sister of Alice Day, who was a famous and loved actress in her own merit. Marceline and Alice were very close to one another, and they both had a very close relationship with their mother Irene. After living in Salt Lake City for a number of years the three of them arrived in Hollywood in early 1923.

Marceline Day made her first film appearance at 15 years young as an extra in William C. de Mille's film "Only 38", released on 6/17/1923. Her first leading role at 16 years young was in the short comedy "Black Oxfords", released on 5/18/1924. Later that year she partnered with Harry Langdon in what critics called "two stellar comedies" - "The Luck o' the Foolish" and "The Hansom Cabman".

In early 1925 Marceline Day played her first leading role in a feature film partnering with the star of Westerns Hoot Gibson for "The Taming of the West", and the critics already called her "a promising newcomer to the screen". For her role in "The White Outlaw", released on 9/6/1925, where she co-starred with another luminary of Westerns, Jack Hoxie, critics called Marceline Day's performance "splendid". She was 17 years young.

In late 1925 Marceline Day played her first dramatic role in "The Splendid Road", a critically acclaimed film about the California gold rush, for which she "created an outstanding achievement", according to the film's renowned director Frank Lloyd. A critic commented that "Marceline Day contributes a splendid dramatic spark. A brilliant future seems destined for her."

Recognition

That brilliant future started becoming reality very soon.

In January of 1926 Marceline Day played in "Western Pluck" with Art Acord, another star of Western films. The critics said that “Marceline Day is a vivacious heroine...she plays the role in an appealing manner.” In March of 1926 Marceline Day was one of four leading characters in another powerful drama about the Western frontier - "The Barrier". Critics described her as "an actress of real merit...with a distinguished performance", they "hailed her work as one of the outstanding feminine portrayals of the year".

Later in 1926 at the age of 18 Marceline Day was the leading character and owned the tremendous success of no less than three critically acclaimed films: "The Boy Friend", made by MGM, and "That Model from Paris" and "College Days", both made by Tiffany. There isn't a movie magazine or a newspaper of the era that does not give Marceline Day rave reviews for her outstanding performances. Those include Film Daily, Photoplay, Film Year Book, Motion Picture Classic, Motion Picture News, Motion Picture Magazine, Variety, Moving Picture World, and many other domestic and International film editions.

Critics said that in "The Boy Friend" Marceline Day's acting "is a revelation of sympathetic charm", it is "an excellent effort, that shows maturity of judgment, and more than ordinary ability". "Marceline Day reveals a talent for drama that is amazing. Miss Day is that rare combination, a girl with a real personality and acting ability." "Marceline Day is sitting pretty at the top of the celluloid ladder, a fact you can discover for yourself when you see her in "The Boy Friend"".

In mid 1926 it was announced that "Marceline Day's contract with the MGM forces has been extended, because of her exceptional work in three MGM productions - "The Barrier", "The Gay Deceiver" and "The Boy Friend"". Also in the news at that time was that "Mae Busch and Marceline Day in the "Fools of Fashion" drew full houses to the theater throughout the week with big box office results being reported".

Critics also noted: "That Model from Paris" is important in that "it brings to the fore a new luminary in the person of Marceline Day in the leading role", and "College Days" "brings down the plaudits of the trade reviewers. Marceline Day contends for a place among the upper flight of popular screen personalities".

Stardom

In early 1927 Marceline Day co-starred with J. Barrymore in the historical drama "The Beloved Rogue". Critics said that she "shines brilliantly in innumerable scenes" and "makes the film the most colorful, romantic screen story in the history of motion pictures". In the contemporary drama "Red Clay" William Desmond "is brilliantly supported by Marceline Day". In the critically acclaimed comedy "Rookies" Karl Dane and George K. Arthur, aided by Marceline Day, were "responsible for many an aching side when they took the big parts in that intensely funny screen comedy". "The merriment was uproarious and the throng howled and shrieked".

In May that year Marceline Day co-starred with Lars Hanson in the powerful historical drama "Captain Salvation", directed by John S. Robertson. Critics said that she "is surely stepping into the star class", as she stepped into her 19th year of age. In "The Road to Romance", again directed by John S. Robertson, opposite the hero of "Ben-Hur" Ramon Novarro Marceline Day delivered another stellar performance. Critics said that she "is more charming and beautiful than ever" and that she "plays the part with striking sincerity and charm". In the mystery thriller classic "London After Midnight" Marceline Day was a leading lady to Lon Chaney, the master of mystery thrillers. Critics said that "she plays her part in a convincing manner". "London After Midnight" is considered the most sought after of all lost films.

1928 was also a strong year for Marceline Day. In the war drama "Under the Black Eagle" she partnered with Ralph Forbes and critics praised her performance, saying that "Marceline Day does some excellent emotional acting".

In the crime drama "The Big City" starring Lon Chaney and Marceline Day the critics commended her acting by saying: "Marceline Day has the big female lead, ...she does splendidly with her role, ... she is appealing, ...makes an admirable study if the role, lives up to her name as 'Sunshine', the sweetness of her smile capturing all hearts".

In the romantic comedy "A Certain Young Man", where she partnered again with Ramon Novarro, "Marceline Day appears opposite the star as a leading lady, and, as usual, acquits herself with the highest honors...gives a most appealing performance ". For her role in the comedy "Detectives", where she partnered one more time with Karl Dane and George K. Arthur, she was praised by critics again: "Marceline Day gives a most pleasing performance".

Marceline Day shone brightly and sweetly in the classic romantic comedy "The Cameraman" with the one and only Buster Keaton, a film that was used by MGM to teach comedians for generations. Marceline Day is one of the reasons why this film is so universally acclaimed both by the critics and by the public. "The Cameraman" has an outstanding ranking of 8.3 in IMDB. Amateur reviewers from the site Mythical Monkey have described Marceline Day's performance in this film as worthy of an Oscar. "The Cameraman" was added to the National Film Registry in 2005 as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

For her role in the political drama "Freedom of the Press" the critics commented that Marceline Day "plays admirably her part in a stellar cast", which included Lewis Stone, Malcolm McGregor and Henry Walthall. For the society drama "Restless Youth" starring Marceline Day supported by Ralph Forbes the reviews were: "Excellent, the best program picture in a long while. Marceline Day's acting very good. Best of luck and success to you, Miss Day". "Stolen Love" is "an absorbing story with an outstanding cast headed by Marceline Day and Owen Moore; their excellent acting in this photoplay will win for them new laurels", noted the pundits.

Even in one film that was not universally praised by critics, "The Jazz Age" opposite Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Marceline Day earned positive reviews for her performance : "Marceline Day is better than the film".

In early 1929 Marceline Day played in the comedy "A Single Man" and deserved high critic praise again: the film "gives Lew Cody, Aileen Pringle and Marceline Day an opportunity for some brilliant acting".

"Trent’s Last Case" is a thrilling murder mystery, featuring an all-star cast; "Marceline Day is charming and appealing", commented the critics. The cast includes Raymond Griffith, Raymond Hatton and Donald Crisp.

Marceline Day's last silent film is the oriental drama "The One Woman Idea". Critics said that "Marceline Day, leading woman, portrays a dual role, and is everything that could be asked in both".

Legacy

Nowadays Marceline Day is judged almost exclusively by her sound films from the early 1930ies, which are readily available, generally belong to the so-called B-category and are inferior in artistic quality compared to her silent films. However, this judgement is wrong, as it would be wrong to judge Buster Keaton almost exclusively by his sound films from the early 1930ies, which are inferior in artistic quality compared to his silent films. Buster Keaton's renaissance came from the recognition of his silent films as masterpieces. Similarly, Marceline Day's true legacy belongs to the silent era of motion pictures and the masterpieces that she helped create during that period.

Of her 33 high quality feature silent films, in which Marceline Day partnered with top male stars, played her most memorable roles, and earned the highest praise of the critics, until recently only 4 were available on DVD: "The Beloved Rogue", "Captain Salvation", "The Cameraman" and "The White Outlaw". Thanks to the efforts of Silent Hall of Fame two more silent masterpieces are now also available - "That Model from Paris" (1926) and "College Days" (1926). Unfortunately, the other 27 silent films with Marceline Day are lost, misplaced or otherwise unavailable. Finding and bringing back to the public Marceline Day's superior silent films will restore her name and legacy as one of the most illustrious female silent movie stars of the 1920ies. The innumerable praises and glowing critic reviews, some of which were shown above, are a testament to Marceline Day's true ranking among the top movie stars of the Silent Era.

Unfortunately little is known about the 66 years of Marceline Day's life after she retired from acting in 1933. She meticulously avoided the attention of the media and stayed away from Hollywood. Unlike most movie personalities Marceline Day never sought any awards or recognition. She remained the gentle and quiet beauty of the Silent Era until the end.

Marceline Day was not only a big movie star, but she also had a radiant
personality and was universally liked by everyone around her - here she
is with director John Robertson and costar Ramon Novarro on the set of
"The Road to Romance" (1927).

Marceline Day tests her new camera on director Malcolm St. Clair, who was working at the time on "Beau Broadway" (1928) with Lew Cody and Aileen Pringle. Marceline Day co-starred with these two a few months later in the nice comedy "A Single Man" (1929).

"Marceline Day is not only sitting pretty in the window - she is also
sitting pretty at the top of the celluloid ladder, a fact you can
discover for yourself when you see her in "The Boy Friend" (1926)" - a
text in Motion Picture Classic below a full-page picture.

"Many a young actor has offered himself to play opposite Marceline Day in her newest picture. But none can be found who will promise not to try to violate the consistency of its title, this being "A Single Man"" - a text in Motion Picture Magazine below a full-page picture.

Marceline Day in the film "A Single Man" (1929). "Benedicts were ever envious of the estate of the unshackled. But when they see Eddie Nugent thus in "A Single Man" with Marceline Day, they'll go just plain crazy" - a
text in Motion Picture Magazine.

Marceline Day and Robert Frazer in a scene from "The Splendid Road" (1925), directed by Frank Lloyd. This is a unique photograph of Marceline Day from the film, in which she plays her first dramatic role and where she "creates an outstanding achievement".